Hotels court weary travelers

With the skies now chaotic, cramped and costly, business travelers are leaning on hotels to fill the friendliness gap.

"With all the cutbacks, it's hard to get a continuous flight anywhere," says Alex McIntyre, of counsel for Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. in New Orleans. "Once you get on board, it's invariably packed."

So, during a recent trip to Chicago, Mr. McIntyre, 49, was pleasantly surprised when the Hotel Allegro credited him $25 for the cost of checked baggage.

Parent Kimpton Hotels, which also owns Hotel Monaco and Hotel Burnham, is among a growing number of places trying to lure frustrated air travelers with extra perks: For example, guests who endured cancelled flights get to choose a free bottle of wine or in-room movie.

Guests at Affinia Chicago can ask for amenities  be it an Ibanez acoustic guitar, golf putter or BlackBerry charger  to be waiting in their room.

Jim Neikamp, managing partner of Lisle-based business development training company 95% Share Marketing, travels from his Ohio home to the Ritz-Carlton Chicago several days each month. There, guests have access to more than 100 free essentials, from staplers and safety pins to lipstick and yarmulkes.

"I get on the airplane with just my computer," says Mr. Neikamp, 47, who stashes speakers, projectors and training materials at the Ritz free of charge. "I even store clothes, which the hotel will launder, press (for a charge) and have waiting for me before I check in. That's great, since a single raindrop elsewhere can mean I'm late getting into O'Hare."